Stranger Things: Jonathan's 10 Best Quotes

Though he's still very much an introvert, Jonathan Byers has grown a lot over the four seasons of Stranger Things released so far. In the first season, he plays the role of the concerned brother and son who discovers hidden truths about his hometown (as well as a bit of a stalker). Season 2 sees him continue a similar trajectory, but in season 3, he's out in the real world, learning adult responsibilities. After developing his relationship with Nancy, Will, and his mom in the first three seasons, Jonathan finally has room to focus on himself.

By season 4, Jonathan has finally grown into himself. For the first time, he has a friend in Argyle, and he seems generally more confident than ever before. Perhaps it's because he's a wallflower or because of his love for the arts - he's always reading books and listening to music - but Jonathan is very quotable. He gives wise advice and usually knows the best thing to say to comfort others. Here are Jonathan Byers' best quotes from the first three seasons of Stranger Things.

10. "I'm Going As A Guy Who Hates Parties."

In season 2, Nancy convinces Jonathan to attend a Halloween party she's going to. His plans for the evening were originally to go trick-or-treating with Will and his friends, but he changes his mind and ends up going to the party.

Once there, he immediately regrets his decision, but he can't turn back at this point. A girl stops him near the entrance and asks about his costume. He laughs and jokes that he's dressed like a guy who hates parties. She appreciates the joke and they begin a conversation, making Jonathan feel comfortable in this new environment.

9. "What? I'm A Fan Of Thumper."

When Nancy and Jonathan first get to know each other, they bond over their similar experiences of growing up in dysfunctional families. They're going out to the woods to practice shooting a gun as they prepare to face the Demogorgon.

When Nancy wants to know why he has a gun, he tells her a story about how his dad used to take him hunting rabbits. After Lonnie pushed him to kill one, Jonathan cried for a week. Nancy makes a comment of astonishment. Jonathan jokes, "What? I'm a fan of Thumper." But Nancy laughs and says she meant his dad.

8. "Sounds Like A Nice Night."

Nancy and Jonathan become quite close at the end of season 1. By the start of the second season, they seem to be best friends. Nancy proves that she knows Jonathan better than almost anyone else.

When she first asks him to join her at the Halloween party, he declines the offer. She rolls her eyes and teases him, "You're going to be home by eight, listening to The Talking Heads and reading Vonnegut or something." Jonathan considers this a moment, then agrees with her. "That sounds like a nice night," he says matter-of-factly.

7. "The Real World Sucks ... Deal With It Like The Rest Of Us."

As Jonathan and Nancy transition from friendship to a romantic relationship, they find that maybe they do have some differences, after all. They struggle to relate to one another in season 3 when they begin working at The Hawkins Post. Nancy has some issues with the male employers, but Jonathan doesn't see the problem.

In fact, he's frustrated that she's making such a big deal out of something that other people deal with every day. He points out that she's lived a relatively sheltered and comfortable life in her privileged household and she doesn't understand half of his struggles growing up. He's right, but he's also harsh and dismissive of her valid struggles.

6. "Don't Take It So Personally ... I Don't Like Most People. He's In The Vast Majority."

Jonathan is known around Hawkins as an introvert who is maybe a little snobby about his taste in popular culture. Though he may be quiet, Jonathan isn't shy about telling people his opinions - and making sure he's different from everyone else.

When he first gets to know Nancy, he has a hard time accepting that she's dating Steve. She keeps insisting that he's a good guy, even though all of his actions towards Jonathan suggest otherwise. He gets frustrated and tells Nancy not to take it personally, because he doesn't like most people.

5. "Being A Freak Is The Best. I'm A Freak."

Jonathan is a caring older brother who inspires Will in many ways. Whenever he feels like he doesn't fit in, Jonathan is there to reassure him: "Do you wanna be normal? Do you wanna be just like everyone else?"

He tells Will that he's a freak and that he enjoys it. Will quips, "Is that why you don't have any friends?" But Jonathan doesn't seem to mind being on his own. In fact, he probably likes it better that way.

4. "Sometimes People Don't Really Say What They're Really Thinking."

Jonathan has a passion for photography that sometimes lands him in trouble, like when he takes photos of Nancy and Steve without their permission. Nancy is curious as to why he likes photography, and his answer gives more insight into who Jonathan really is.

"Sometimes people don't really say what they're really thinking ... But you capture the right moment, it says more." Nancy proceeds to ask him what she was "saying" when he took the photos of her.

3. "I Was Thinking, 'Nancy Wheeler, She's Not Just Another Suburban Girl ...'"

When Jonathan explains what Nancy was "saying" in the photos, he gives an answer that offends her. He says that she was being herself, as if nobody was watching her. She rebukes his answer, then essentially calls him a creep. He, too, is riled up:

I was thinking, 'Nancy Wheeler, she's not just another suburban girl who thinks she's rebelling by doing exactly what every other suburban girl does until that phase passes and they marry some boring one-time jock who now works sales and they live out a perfectly boring little life at the end of a cul-de-sac, exactly like their parents, who they thought were so depressing, but now, hey, they get it.'

2. "You Shouldn't Like Things Because People Tell You You're Supposed To."

Jonathan regularly offers Will great advice, most of which is shown through the season 1 flashbacks when Will is still missing. Jonathan remembers the treasured moments with his brother before he disappears into the Upside Down.

Will worries that some people won't like him because he's different. Jonathan is playing him "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" by The Clash, who were considered a little unorthodox around Hawkins in 1983. The boys compare the band to other, more popular artists, and Will wonders how Jonathan can like something that few other people do. He explains he's just being himself.

1. "Nobody Normal Ever Accomplished Anything Meaningful In This World."

Jonathan's most iconic quote is another piece of advice for his little brother. After hearing these words, Will feels more like he can be himself around his peers, even though some may call him weird.

Jonathan is well aware that he's not like most other people his age, and he's fine with that. He knows that nobody normal ever achieves anything noteworthy, and Jonathan wants more from life than just fitting in.

[Originally shared with ScreenRant.]